Alumni Spotlight

Career experience

Dreyer is an author, adviser and recently retired senior executive at The Walt Disney Company. She joined The Walt Disney Company in 1980 and spent over 30 years in various roles. Among her many projects, she had a leadership role as part of the grand opening team of Disneyland Paris. She also served as the Walt Disney World ambassador, the face of the company throughout the world.

How did UA Schools prepare her for success?

Dreyer shared: “I can shut my eyes and remember Windermere Elementary and Mrs. Gardner reading ‘The Secret Garden.’ It was magical, and she brought stories to life. Mr. Stark at Hastings in Spanish opened new worlds, and Mr. Ziegler at the high school made me chew on issues and ideas. These teachers pushed me to think, ask questions, explore, and discover.

“Through many opportunities and programs, there were many areas to jump in including student government, the science fair, pep club, lacrosse stats and yearbook. It was fun to get involved and participate in all sorts of programs and projects. I didn’t always succeed, but I learned to try and try again.

“The spirit of love, compassion and support evident in UA taught me about giving back, looking beyond yourself and reaching out to lend a hand.”

Notable achievements at UAHS

Catherine was the accompanist for the 220 voice UAHS choir for all three years of her attendance at UAHS. She was also a member of the independent 16 member singing ensemble Strollers. In addition to her musical activities, she was one of the top 20 scholars in her enormous ’72 class of 792 students.

College and career experience

Catherine has her bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance and master’s in Chamber Music and Accompanying from the University of Michigan. While there, she won the annual Concerto Competition, which led to her being a soloist with the University Philharmonia Orchestra. She has taught hundreds of students in piano, improvisation and composition, and has written hundreds of pieces on commission. She is a performer, arranger, composer and/or co-director for several musical groups in Michigan including the River Raisin Ragtime Revue in Ann Arbor, the Bijou Theatre Orchestra of Bay City and the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra.

How did UA Schools prepare her for success?

“There was an expectation of excellence communicated by every teacher I had at UAHS. That expectation was complemented by an enthusiastic atmosphere of support for learning and effort. I felt prepared to catch everything the University of Michigan could throw at me, and I did, because of the expectation of excellence fostered by UAHS faculty and staff.”

Posted by
Colleen Wright
in
alumni
on Wednesday August 23, 2017 at 08:01AM

Jack Nicklaus became the first inductee into the newly created Upper Arlington High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He shared these memories at the ceremony on April 19 at the Ohio State Golf Club.

Notable achievements at UAHS

Nicklaus had twice earned individual medalist honors at the state golf championships in 1956 and 1957 and led his team to win the state championship in 1956 and place third in 1957. He also won the Tri-State State High School Championship in 1957 and was the individual medalist with a score of 67.

As a sophomore, junior and senior, Nicklaus was selected as all-league in basketball, and he received honorable mention all-Ohio as a shooting guard his senior year.

“As I grew up in Arlington, something that was really special to me was that I got to play all sports,” Nicklaus recalled. “The school was big enough to compete but small enough that you got to be able to play everything or anything you wanted to play.”

The origin of the Golden Bear nickname

He recalled that in 1961, as he turned pro, he was looking for an emblem for his first contract with a sportswear company when an Australian reporter wrote an article referring to him as “a cuddly golden bear.”

“At that time I was a little taller and a little bigger, and so I came back and we went through all the different things that we might have for an emblem. And finally I said, ‘Guys, come on. I’ve been a Golden Bear all my life. Why don’t I stay a Golden Bear?’

“I’ll always be a Golden Bear, and I’ll always be proud to be a Golden Bear — not only through my company but also through the schools.”

How did UA prepare him for success?

“Arlington was very special,” Nicklaus recalled. “We got a good education at Arlington. I know you still get a good education at Arlington.

“Arlington prepared us very well for college, prepared us for the what-ifs, and I enjoyed it.”

To view a video of the induction ceremony, please visit https://youtu.be/NB8osfNaXY4. The Upper Arlington High School Athletic Department will share nomination guidelines later this year for the class of 2018 inductees.